Hi,My son, at this late hour, has decided he wants to sit the 11+. he's 10 1/2. The oldest in his class but he's only in year five at the moment. So I'm guessing he'll sit the exam this Nov. As we're now really short on prepRation time. Can anyone give us any guidence on what CD's might be of use to us? He says he'd like to go to Westcliffe or any other grammar schools which may be within our region. We live in Coringham near Basildon.

My daughter is in yr 5 also & yes they will sit the exam this November. I don't think it's too late to start your preparation. Have you spoken to yr son's headteacher? Can they offer any in-school support, offer advice on materials to use etc? Do you plan to tutor him yourself or find a tutor? Take a look at the Bond range of 11+ materials in bookshops. I recently bought their 'The Parents' Stress-free Guide to the 11+' which cost £11.99, there was also a free, small pamphlet 'The Parents' Mini Guide to the 11+' also by Bond in the same Waterstones but also saw them in WH Smith.

You can also buy past papers from the Consortium website who organise the exam & offer GS places as well as transport to various GS. The names of all the schools under their umbrella are on their site. www.csse.org.uk

Moved, who moderates this section will be along tonight and I know she has lots of good advice re specific resources.So I won't muddy the waters by giving my own too.She has a very specific and proven order in which to work through materials and is an expert in the Essex 11+.Just wanted to say really that it isn't at all late to be starting.I feel Easter is ample time to prepare.I know you meet lots of people who have been doing prep for ages but I know many, myself included, who started long after Easter.So don't worry - plenty of time and lots of good advice will come your way later.Good luck.

Just wanted to back up what's already been said, really! You still have enough time to prepare. It's well worth getting the available past papers from the consortium as well as Bond English and Maths books. Bond is ok for a bit of VR practice but isn't on all fours with the types of question that come up in the exam. Moved will probably be able to give you a better idea of how to tackle the VR prep. Please don't be put off by the English papers when you see them - they are shocking to everyone! Not sure why they need to be pitched at such a high level but that's just how it's been for quite a few years now.Good luck!

Moved, who moderates this section will be along tonight and I know she has lots of good advice re specific resources.So I won't muddy the waters by giving my own too.She has a very specific and proven order in which to work through materials and is an expert in the Essex 11+.Just wanted to say really that it isn't at all late to be starting.I feel Easter is ample time to prepare.I know you meet lots of people who have been doing prep for ages but I know many, myself included, who started long after Easter.So don't worry - plenty of time and lots of good advice will come your way later.Good luck.

Thank you CM.

No worries at all about starting now. I like to begin with pupils in January of year 5, but my own daughter didn't really get going until the summer holidays.

For maths and English work through the Bond books. Start with fourth papers and build up to fifth. Make sure that tables and arithmetic are good. If you look through the last two papers from the CSSE it will give you a good guide as to the topics that are covered in maths. English may shock you, but then it does everyone.

For VR I would work through one type at a time to begin with. An easy way to do this is to buy some commercial papers and take one section and work through it together. Always use the answer sheet as there are short cuts. If you have to find a missing letter, then the answer sheet offers you the five choices available, much better than 26. VR problems are quite good fun to write as well so sharing some together is always good.

Listen to classic stories on CD when you are driving in the car. Enjoy games like Scrabble and Boggle. There is an excellent site for words that sends rice to the poor for each question you get correct.

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